Caitríona Redmond: Returning to education doesn't need to be a financial burden

Free or reduced-cost college courses are an attractive option to people looking to return to college in later life

Some courses are delivered in person, while others are online only. 

Third-level education is rarely seen as a consumer issue, because it’s a natural progression after secondary school. And when people return to education later, it is seen as a luxury, available only to those who are flush.

The school of thought is that anybody who educates themselves in later life is privileged. How else would you pay for an expensive college course and allocate the time to study?